Cetasika (Mental Factors)

Cetasika (mental factors; pronounced “chethasikä”) appear concomitantly with citta (thoughts; pronounced “chiththä”), and they cease together with citta. They define the character (good or bad or neutral) of the citta.

Manasikara can be either yoniso manasikara (important in attaining the Sotapanna stage), and ayoniso manasikara can lead to accumulation of akusala kamma.

3. There are six cetasikas that also CAN appear in both types of cittas: kusala and akusala. However, they are found in only particular types of cittas. They are called particulars or pakinnaka:

vitakka (focused application) can become samma sankappa; vicara (sustained application); adhimokkha (dominate). Adhimokkha is the cetasika that makes another cetasika in the citta to dominate; for example, to get uddacca, vicikicca, or patigha to strengthen.

These are important cetasika and play key roles in morality/immorality since they can appear in both kusala and akusalacitta. For example, when one’s mind is covered with deep ignorance (moha), one may enjoy immoral deeds (piti), makes a liking for them (chanda), and strive more (viriya) to do such acts.

4. Just like universals, these particulars can appear in either type of cittas, kusala or akusala. Vitakka, vicara, and piti are jhana factors as well.